"... and by-and-by they came to an enchanted place on
the very top of the forest called Galleons Lap ..."
~ A. A. Milne, The House at Pooh Corner
We wandered through the park which had slowed down for winter, towards the water garden with its gently bubbling stone fountain.
If its water looks frozen, it is just a trick of the light: it is only frozen in time.
By-and-by we came to an enchanted place, which was almost perfect for a Teddy Bears Picnic.
But in these days just after the Winter Solstice, it would be far too cold, and darkness upon us far too early for a proper picnic.
The bears' tea would freeze in their cups and dainty sandwiches and cakes would crumble in clumsy mittened paws.
Sunlight was scarce and its source very low on the horizon, casting strange elongated shadows; the sky a pale Wedgwood blue painted ceiling, with a handful of hazy cotton wool clouds.
The dying sun was turning the spongy bed of bracken into a fiery carpet fit for fairies and pixies, dotted with mossy pillows for them to dream on.
And look, wasn't that a phantom I saw, come and gone in the blink of an eye? Could it have been the Ghost of Christmas only-just-past?
And isn't that a wood nymph on the bridge, staring out over the pond and soaking up the remains of the winter sun?
Near the wooden bridge, the water birds gathered, the honking geese lording it over the complacent ducks.
They live in hope of a handout, crusts of bread and such, to supplement their meagre winter diet. Life for them isn't a picnic in the park.
Soon the sun descended even lower, her final weak rays piercing through the leafless trees, creating an eerie landscape of silhouettes.
As the gloaming enveloped the park, it was time to go home and light the fire, and draw the curtains on the long and bleak midwinter night.
"And by-and-by Christopher Robin came to an end of things, and was silent,
and he sat there looking out over the world, and wishing it wouldn't stop."
~ A. A. Milne, The House at Pooh Corner
Wishing you all a Happy New Year!
Lovely! Great photos too, love the line "the honking geese lording it over the complacent ducks" how true that is! Happy New Year to you both, may 2017 bring you lots of vintage finds, health and happiness xxx
ReplyDeleteThanks Claire, and I'm wishing you the same, with lots of great bargains and trips to stately homes! xxx
DeleteA sunny day in winter is glorious isn't it? Your gorgeous photos really sum up what such a day can be xx
ReplyDeleteThank you! Have to make the most of any sunny winter's day, as usually they happen while I'm at work ... xxx
DeleteHow beautiful is that willow tree? It just does the soul good. Happy new year to you both. xx
ReplyDeleteAnd to you Gisela! As for that willow tree, conditions were just perfect! xxx
DeleteMagnificent!!! I applaud you!
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year to you and Jos!
Thanks, and Happy New Year to you too! Hope 2017 has lots of thrifty finds in store! xxx
DeleteA perfect end to 2016. Best to you and Jos for the New Year.
ReplyDeleteAnd you're so correct about the geese:)
Thanks Goody! One of our holiday homes used to have two geese and one duck, who was always being chased away, poor thing. xxx
DeleteWhat a beautiufl post! There's something about spending time outside at the time of year, away from the claustrophobia of Xmas decorations and excess.
ReplyDeleteHave a wonderful 2017 Anne, Jos & Phoebe. xxx
Have a wonderful 2017 too, starting with a well-deserved holiday! xxx
DeleteHappy New Year to you and Jos - and any loitering bears!
ReplyDeleteThanks Mim, hopefully Mr. Robot is feeling a bit better, and the cats have been put in the naughty corner! xxx
Deletepure poetry! such a wonderful post!
ReplyDelete<3
and a fairy tale outfit of heather and turquoise.....
i wish you and jos and phoebe a wonderful, gorgeous, happy & healthy 2017!!
much love! xxxxxx
Thank you Beate, wishing you, the railroad keeper and - of course - Lisbeth the same! xxx
DeleteWonderful Ann! For a moment there I thought you were at Pooh Corner, Hartfield which is just 20 mins away from my home. Very best wishes to you and Mr. Suave for 2017. x
ReplyDeleteWe did visit Pooh Corner and Hartfield, but it was more than ten years ago. We also went to the "real" Enchanted Place and Poohsticks Bridge, which was full of mainly Japanese people taking photographs ... Best wishes for 2017 from me and Mr. Suave (you should have seen his face when I told him ...) xxx
Deletethat is an enchanted place lovely!
ReplyDeleteThank you Kate, I wanted to end 2016 with a little bit of magic! xxx
DeleteWhat a beautiful, poetic post. I really believe there could be magic in the woods, especially with that wood nymph on the bridge. You've captured perfectly the feeling of New Year's walks! Xxxx
ReplyDeleteThank you Tania, and of course there's magic in the woods. One of my favourites quotes says: the woods were made for the hunter of dreams! xxx
DeleteWe are fortunate enough to live overlooking a nature reserve and it is somewhere I spent many hours as a child. Our house also is on the edge of the moorland so we have instant access to the great outdoors. Sadly since Kikki passed we hardly go out there. Perhaps 2017 will see us making more of an effort
ReplyDeleteLynn x x x
I'd love to live somewhere overlooking a nature reserve, rather than more houses across the street. We do have a couple of open spaces nearby to choose from, but they're not within walking distance ... xxx
Delete"The bears' tea would freeze in their cups and dainty sandwiches and cakes would crumble in clumsy mittened paws."
ReplyDeleteLove this sentence so much xxx
Thank you, Melanie. It's the sentence I was most pleased with, so I'm glad you love it. xxx
DeleteHappy new year!
ReplyDeleteAnd to you Hazel! xxx
DeleteI really like both of these outfits, especially the one with the beret. Tres chic.
ReplyDelete